It’s time to dip your toes in a new winter cruising destination

It’s no secret that most people are creatures of habit, so it’s likely that you find yourself chartering a yacht in the same region year after year. However, this year has been unusual for all of us, so why not do something different. If your summer travel plans were cancelled this summer, then perhaps it’s time you considered chartering this winter in a destination less familiar, where the sun of the yachting season hasn’t set yet.

Just think, instead of waiting until next summer for your yacht charter holiday, you could be packing for a Caribbean beach-hopping adventure, an exotic diving expedition in the Indian Ocean, or a once-in-a-lifetime wildlife excursion to the Galapagos.

We’ve rounded up some of the best winter charter destinations in the world, many of which are more accessible than you might think, and the best travel corridors to reach them.

Winter charters from London, Nice or Moscow

For charter guests setting off from Europe or Russia, there is a whole lot of cruising ground out there beyond the Med.

The Red Sea, for instance, is one of the last frontiers when it comes to cruising. Here, you can enjoy crowd-free cruising along coastlines where rugged wildernesses give way to sky-scraping cities. Inland, there are vast desert landscapes to discover and cultural attractions that are rich in mystique and symbolism.

Meanwhile, the Indian Ocean is home to some of the best diving in the world, as well as some of the rarest wildlife. You can drop anchor off one of the many tropical islands in the Seychelles, where white sandy beaches drift down to turquoise waters, and explore unique eco-systems beneath the water’s surface.

With over 1100 islands, just 220 of which are inhabited, it’s easy to feel that treasure island level of escapism in the Maldives, where you can indulge yourself at some of the most exclusive resorts on the planet, while both Mauritius and Madagascar are home to wildlife you won’t find anywhere else.

For a mix of friendly locals, delicious cuisine, adrenalin-pumping activities and marine parks teeming with colourful coral and vibrant sea life, Thailand is a charter destination you won’t forget in a hurry.

Winter charters from the USA’s east coast

The Caribbean has long been the go-to charter destination for travellers setting off from the east coast of the US and it’s easy to see why. Caribbean yacht charters are the stuff of dreams – if Heaven was a place on earth it would surely be here amid sugar-white sands and palm-fringed islands that freckle the Caribbean Sea under cloudless skies.

But there’s no reason why you should limit yourself to the Caribbean. The Bahamas, though not strictly part of the Caribbean, are every bit as Eden-esque. On a Bahamas yacht charter, you can spend endless days hopping between subtropical islands, anchor in secluded cays, dive amid the world’s third largest barrier reef or pull into a luxurious resort for a round of championship golf with jaw-dropping views. Plus, ringing in the new year in the Bahamas has become something of a charter rite of passage.

If it’s diving that excites you, then you’ll want to visit what Jacques Cousteau described as the ‘world’s aquarium’ in the Sea of Cortez, a 60,000-square-mile gulf off the coast of Mexico with an extraordinary biological richness: some 900 fish species and 32 types of marine mammal gather to feed and breed here, including blue whales.

There’s also incredible diving on the Belize Barrier Reef or you might prefer to moor up in Belize instead and trek amid lush rainforest in search of ancient ruins that feel like they are from a lost world.

Further south in Central America, Costa Rica has some of the best waves on the planet, along with much smaller crowds than the world’s more famous surfing spots, while at the Corcovado National Park there’s a good chance of spotting some of Costa Rica’s shyest and most endangered inhabitants, including Baird’s tapirs, jaguars and scarlet macaws.

And then there are the volcanic islands of the Galapagos, one of the few places on earth that has remained virtually untouched by man, allowing many endemic species of flora, fauna and wildlife to not only survive but thrive.

Winter charters from the USA’s west coast

The west coast of the US is a useful launchpad for those wishing to charter a yacht in the Pacific Ocean.

The Galapagos, of course, can be reached easily from here, while French Polynesia, Tahiti, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea and Fiji are all possible, too.

Follow in the wake of Captain Cook and go on your own voyage of discovery in Tahiti, home to innumerable waterfalls, sheltered lagoons and beautiful black-sand beaches.

The idyllic islands of French Polynesia have long captured the world’s imagination, with their tropical landscapes, crystal-clear azure waters and rugged mountains that soar out of the ocean having a timeless feel.

In the Solomon Islands you can snorkel in coral-rimmed lagoons, hike through verdant jungle and, visit remote villages where you can witness a way of life that’s changed little for centuries.

You can continue the cultural awakening with a visit to the tribal villages of nearby Papua New Guinea.

Further south, in Fiji you can bond with locals over the national kava drink in traditional villages, or join them for a lovo feast, where food is cooked in an underground oven, or a meke (traditional dance) performance.

What yacht should I charter this winter?

Edmiston has lots of incredible yachts to charter across the world this winter.

Charter guests in the Caribbean are spoilt for choice. Choose between the likes of the hybrid Feadship SAVANNAH, which comes with an exceptional 9m swimming pool, and LADY BRITT, which comes with a double-aspect sun deck with a cinema and Jacuzzi, and its own Michelin-starred chef.  

If you’re looking for a luxurious base for the Antigua Superyacht Challenge next March then the sailing yacht SHAMANNA, with her uncluttered decks, contemporary accommodation for eight and brand-new 38ft Wajer chase tender could tick your boxes.

If you’d rather venture into the Bahamas, then LADY S, with her top-class amenities – including the first IMAX Dolby cinema on a yacht ever – offers that option. Alternatively, both the 60.53m Feadship ROCKIT, which sleeps 10 across five luxurious cabins, also runs charters there.

For the Indian Ocean you have the tough choice between LA DATCHA and PLANET NINE – both spectacular explorer yachts with enviable facilities and add-ons, including helicopters, and in the case of LA DATCHA, a submersible. The Owner of PLANET NINE will also consider other destinations, too.

SUNRAYS, a multi-functional yacht with sensational spa, party space and no fewer than three Jacuzzis, is also taking bookings for the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia.

And lastly, if the designer shopping and all-out luxury of Dubai is calling you, then the 35m Benetti-built yacht DXB, with its superb sky lounge and sun deck Jacuzzi, could be for you.

*Travel restrictions may apply

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